Christmas joy only dynasty in my mind

Published: Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 04:00 PM.

Christmas is days away, and judging by the public reaction to a “Duck Dynasty” star’s personal opinion on a personal matter you’d think Santa Claus himself had spoken out on what he thinks ought to be what as it goes to people’s private lives.

People on both sides are in an uproar. I’ve heard from some angry people and I’ve read some vile comments, which is no surprise in these Wild West days of say-what-the-heck-you-want online.

I’d be more moved one way or the other if “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson and his beard showed up preaching at my door, but he hasn’t. He was asked his opinion and he gave it. I am no more concerned with his opinion than I’m concerned about John Travolta’s passion for Scientology when I’m trying to decide whether to see his latest movie.

If it’s good, I’m going to see it. I’m there for my entertainment, not his. If anyone feels strongly enough about Robertson’s dismissal by A&E for his comments on homosexuality, they have every right to boycott the network. And those who think it was the right move to watch more of the network or buy the products advertised on it to show support for A&E.

But what crossed my mind as my little family of two prepared for a trip to Atlanta for Christmas with our grandparents and siblings and nephews and nieces is that while I may be offended by this or that, I am not going to be a slave to emotions generated by others.

That’s no small task, but I have learned that a good place to start is to not let people or entities I’ve never met and who are not aware of my existence affect the way I feel or the way I act. It’s why I won’t argue national politics with you.

Christmas is approaching, after all, and I’m reminded of that by the 8-by-10 picture of the late Tommy Needham, a longtime News Herald photographer, that I keep on my desk this time of year. He’s in full Santa regalia, sitting on a bench holding a basket of Chihuahuas with a Christmas tree in the background. Try looking at that and being negative.

Christmas is days away, and judging by the public reaction to a “Duck Dynasty” star’s personal opinion on a personal matter you’d think Santa Claus himself had spoken out on what he thinks ought to be what as it goes to people’s private lives.

People on both sides are in an uproar. I’ve heard from some angry people and I’ve read some vile comments, which is no surprise in these Wild West days of say-what-the-heck-you-want online.

I’d be more moved one way or the other if “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson and his beard showed up preaching at my door, but he hasn’t. He was asked his opinion and he gave it. I am no more concerned with his opinion than I’m concerned about John Travolta’s passion for Scientology when I’m trying to decide whether to see his latest movie.

If it’s good, I’m going to see it. I’m there for my entertainment, not his. If anyone feels strongly enough about Robertson’s dismissal by A&E for his comments on homosexuality, they have every right to boycott the network. And those who think it was the right move to watch more of the network or buy the products advertised on it to show support for A&E.

But what crossed my mind as my little family of two prepared for a trip to Atlanta for Christmas with our grandparents and siblings and nephews and nieces is that while I may be offended by this or that, I am not going to be a slave to emotions generated by others.

That’s no small task, but I have learned that a good place to start is to not let people or entities I’ve never met and who are not aware of my existence affect the way I feel or the way I act. It’s why I won’t argue national politics with you.

Christmas is approaching, after all, and I’m reminded of that by the 8-by-10 picture of the late Tommy Needham, a longtime News Herald photographer, that I keep on my desk this time of year. He’s in full Santa regalia, sitting on a bench holding a basket of Chihuahuas with a Christmas tree in the background. Try looking at that and being negative.

Tommy rarely showed that any outside influence was affecting him in a negative way, but he had a knack for absorbing the goodwill around him and exuding it as he went about his daily business.

His smile reminded me that if I had never heard what Robertson had to say, or how others reacted to it, my life wouldn’t be one bit different, so there was certainly no reason to get caught up in the frenzy.

It focused me on Christmas, and how much the things I do care about have changed, and that the change has been for the better.

My first Christmas memories are from a home not too far from where we’ll be this Christmas. We had a modest house in Chamblee, Ga. We were poor, but I didn’t know it.

It sounds made up, but as a young child we literally decorated our tree with popcorn and cranberries strung together with a sewing needle and thread. That is a vivid memory. There were not a lot of presents, but we cherished what we did get and never knew that others might be getting more, or, for that matter, that many, many others were getting less.

The Christmases grew in grandeur over the years as life improved for my mom and a stepdad entered our lives, then faded a bit as I moved to Panama City.

But my sister married, and 15 years ago my first niece was born. The Christmas traditions seemed to take on new meaning, and their house is where I would land for the holidays, like a magnet pulling me back. My mother still lives in that area, as does my former stepdad, both with new spouses.

Then my second niece was born. I married and a son arrived 10 years ago, followed the next year by my first nephew.

With four children in the family mix, Christmas took on renewed life.

The same could be said for me in the last 10 years, and when I focus on that everything seems to turn out OK.

Mike Cazalas is editor of The News Herald. Contact him at mmcazalas@pcnh.com or at (850) 747-5094.